Nuwan Thushara among 46 Sri Lankan men's cricketers handed SLC contracts for 2026-27

Sri Lanka Cricket awarded contracts to 46 men's cricketers, including Nuwan Thushara, for the 2026-27 season.

Thushara’s contract resolved after disputes Nuwan Thushara’s inclusion on the contracted players list marks a fresh start in his relationship with Sri Lanka Cricket. Earlier, he had raised objections when SLC made a fitness assessment a mandatory condition for granting him a No-Objection Certificate to participate in foreign franchise cricket. Following a sweeping removal of board members he had disagreements with, Thushara chose to withdraw his legal challenge. He later sent a formal letter to the newly appointed SLC leadership, declaring his readiness for national team selection, which the Transformation Committee subsequently approved. ## New faces join established stars in contracts The list of contracted players features several debutants, including Jaffna legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Ratnayake, batters Kamil Mishara and Lasith Croospulle, and allrounders Isitha Wijesundara, Wanuja Sahan, and Dilum Sudeera. Despite having featured in domestic cricket earlier this year, batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa did not receive a contract. The selection covers a wide range of talent, from Test specialists like Dinesh Chandimal and Kasun Rajitha to white-ball specialists such as Binura Fernando. ## Contract structure remains undisclosed Sri Lanka Cricket announced that the 46 contracted players have been divided into six categories, but refrained from revealing which athlete falls under which category. The contracts will be valid from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. The announcement did not include any unexpected omissions or surprises given the size of the roster. The list spans multiple formats and roles, ensuring representation across different aspects of the national team setup. ## Full list of contracted players Below is the complete roster of contracted players: Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Niroshan Dickwella, Jeffrey Vandersay, Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Eshan Malinga, Milan Rathnayake, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ramesh Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Sonal Dinusha, Sahan Arachchige, Pramod Madushan, Lasith Croospulle, Lahiru Udara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Isitha Wijesundara, Nishan Madushka, Akila Dananjaya, Chamika Karunaratne, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Mohammed Shiraz, Wanuja Sahan, Dilum Sudeera, Tharindu Rathnayake.